More than a Sister ...

I trust,we remain learners all our life. At the same time we also get an opportunity to teach another. We teach our children, our brothers and sisters, many give tuitions to the neighbours.

Some want to earn pocket money and some want to remain in touch with knowledge and books. Each of us definitely gain respect for teaching.

I am a teacher to my son though my very first student was a naughty girl, two years younger to me. She had no interest in her books. She was in love with everything around her, except her books.. School was only fun for her. Books and homework were only meant to be carried in school bags. Schoolbooks were not to be read and home-work was never to be done.

Her class was on the first floor, while mine on the second . The staffroom was beside her classroom. I was often send by my class teacher to collect the corrected class books from the staff room. There, outside the class I would spot my first student. She would either be standing or kneeling down outside the classroom. .

She must have not done her history homework, I would guess.. She would smile at me. What a shameless girl! I felt ashamed, angry and guilty all at the same time. Homework is ones own responsibility . Why does she neglect it? I will complain to mom . I knew Mom would say, oh! she is beyond repair, forget her.

One day, my class teacher who was her science teacher said to me, " why don’t you teach her” . I said, "mam, she won’t listen to me".
"She will dear, you can become her teacher, then you will never be ashamed of her". Personal responsibility and respect for my class teacher laid the foundation of my teaching the most adamant student under the sky.

After my studies, I would take her school bag and find out what she had to study. Help her and make her do her homework. She was weak, but she was sweet. I hated her for not taking studies seriously , but I knew I will always love her all my life.

She was neither intelligent nor did she want to work hard, but she was always promoted. My parents thought I would make a good teacher. But destiny had something else in store.

Today, my sister is a teacher in one of the best schools, in India. She teaches English. She is loved and a respected teacher. She is doing well in this profession for more than ten years now. I think this is the gurudakshina I get for teaching her, and somewhere my class teacher will be proud. I obeyed her and respected her faith.

Happy teachers day to all the teachers and this one teacher who is my sister, a naughty student and a good teacher, "Thankyou".. You taught me what is learning, while you teach.